Cloud Security Baseline for Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
Minimum Cloud Security Baseline for Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Control: Use Azure Active Directory (AAD) for authentication.
Recommendation: Integrate AKS with AAD for user authentication and use Kubernetes RBAC to control access to the cluster.
Control: Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
Recommendation: Define Kubernetes RBAC roles and role bindings to enforce the principle of least privilege. Regularly review and update these roles.
Control: Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
Recommendation: Require MFA for users accessing the AKS cluster to add an additional layer of security.
Network Security
Control: Use Virtual Network (VNet) integration.
Recommendation: Deploy AKS clusters in a VNet to isolate and secure network traffic.
Control: Implement Network Policies.
Recommendation: Use Kubernetes Network Policies to restrict pod-to-pod communication based on whitelists.
Control: Use Private Link.
Recommendation: Use Azure Private Link to access AKS securely without exposing it to the public internet.
Data Protection
Control: Encrypt data at rest.
Recommendation: Use Azure Disk Encryption for persistent storage to ensure data at rest is encrypted.
Control: Encrypt data in transit.
Recommendation: Use TLS to secure all data in transit within and outside the cluster.
Control: Secure sensitive data.
Recommendation: Use Kubernetes secrets and Azure Key Vault to manage and store sensitive information securely.
Logging and Monitoring
Control: Enable Azure Monitor and Azure Log Analytics.
Recommendation: Integrate AKS with Azure Monitor and Log Analytics to track performance metrics, logs, and set up alerts for anomalous activities.
Control: Enable Diagnostic Settings.
Recommendation: Enable diagnostic settings to capture logs for API server, controller manager, and other critical components.
Control: Use Azure Security Center.
Recommendation: Enable Azure Security Center to continuously monitor security configurations and detect threats.
Compliance and Governance
Control: Implement Azure Policy.
Recommendation: Use Azure Policy to enforce compliance with security standards and organizational policies on AKS resources.
Control: Regular Security Assessments.
Recommendation: Conduct regular security assessments and audits to ensure compliance and identify vulnerabilities.
Control: Data Governance.
Recommendation: Use Azure Purview to manage and govern data, ensuring data lineage, classification, and protection.
Container and Image Security
Control: Use Trusted Registry.
Recommendation: Use Azure Container Registry (ACR) and ensure images are scanned for vulnerabilities using tools like Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Control: Implement Image Signing.
Recommendation: Sign and verify container images to ensure integrity and authenticity.
Control: Regularly Update Images.
Recommendation: Regularly update container images to include the latest security patches and fixes.
Cluster and Node Security
Control: Use Azure Kubernetes Service-managed nodes.
Recommendation: Regularly apply security updates to AKS nodes using node image upgrade and use Azure Policy to enforce security settings.
Control: Implement Pod Security Policies.
Recommendation: Use Pod Security Policies or the newer Pod Security Admission (PSA) to control the security settings of pods.
Control: Enable Azure Policy for AKS.
Recommendation: Use Azure Policy for AKS to enforce best practices and security configurations at the cluster level.
Backup and Recovery
Control: Regular Backups.
Recommendation: Implement regular backups of Kubernetes configurations and persistent volumes using tools like Velero.
Control: Disaster Recovery Planning.
Recommendation: Develop and test a disaster recovery plan to ensure quick recovery in case of data loss or cluster failure.
Endpoint Security
Control: Secure Workstations.
Recommendation: Ensure that workstations and devices accessing the AKS cluster are secured with up-to-date antivirus and endpoint protection solutions.
Control: Implement Endpoint Security Solutions.
Recommendation: Use Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to provide advanced threat protection and response capabilities for devices accessing AKS.
Core Controls:
Identity and Access Control (IAM):
Enable Azure Active Directory (AAD) integration: Utilize AAD for user authentication and authorization for access to the Kubernetes API server.
Enforce least privilege: Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for users, groups, and service accounts with minimal required permissions.
Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Require MFA for all access to the cluster resources and Azure resources used by AKS (e.g., container registry).
Network Security:
Restrict access to the API server: Limit inbound access to the Kubernetes API server using Azure Bastion or Network Security Groups (NSGs) with allowed IP addresses.
Separate the cluster network: Deploy your AKS cluster in a dedicated Virtual Network (VNet) with restricted network access.
Secure communication channels: Utilize Azure Private Link for secure communication between your cluster and other Azure services.
Node Security:
Enable encryption at rest and in transit: Configure encryption of container images in Azure Container Registry (ACR) and encrypt secrets using Azure Key Vault.
Minimize container privileges: Run containers with the least privileged user account necessary.
Enable Azure Defender for Cloud: Utilize Defender for Cloud to identify vulnerabilities in your cluster nodes and container images.
Patch vulnerabilities promptly: Maintain a process for timely patching of vulnerabilities in the AKS cluster operating system and container images.
Workload Security:
Enforce pod security policies: Implement pod security policies to define security baselines for pods deployed in your cluster.
Scan container images for vulnerabilities: Integrate container image scanning tools like AquaTricks or Syft to identify vulnerabilities before deployment.
Limit network access for pods: Utilize Network Policies within the cluster to restrict network traffic between pods.
Monitoring and Logging:
Enable Azure Monitor for AKS: Utilize Azure Monitor for cluster health monitoring and collect logs for audit purposes.
Enable container insights: Enable container insights for detailed logging of container activities and resource utilization.
Integrate with SIEM: Integrate your monitoring solution with a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tool for centralized security analysis.
Remember: This is a minimum baseline. You may need to implement additional security controls based on your organization's security posture, regulatory requirements, and the sensitivity of your workloads. Regularly review and update your security baseline as needed.
Additional Considerations:
Secrets Management: Utilize Azure Key Vault for secure storage and access control of secrets used by your workloads.
Cluster Backup and Disaster Recovery: Implement a backup and disaster recovery strategy for your AKS cluster.
Cluster RBAC Audit Logging: Enable audit logging for RBAC actions within the cluster for improved accountability.
By implementing these controls, you can establish a strong security foundation for your AKS cluster.
Core Controls:
Identity and Access Control (IAM):
Utilize Azure Active Directory (AAD) for user and service authentication, enforcing least privilege with Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
Implement Azure Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all access to the cluster API server.
Consider using separate service principals for applications requiring access to the cluster.
Network Security:
Deploy your AKS cluster within a Virtual Network (VNet) with Network Security Groups (NSGs) to restrict inbound and outbound traffic.
Limit access to the Kubernetes API server to authorized IP addresses or Azure Virtual Network (VNets).
Consider using Azure Private Endpoints for secure communication between your VNet and other Azure services.
Cluster Security:
Enable Azure Defender for Cloud to monitor AKS cluster security posture and identify potential threats.
Utilize Network Policy Enforcement (NPE) to restrict pod-to-pod communication within the cluster based on security requirements.
Restrict access to the Kubernetes API server to the minimum necessary ports (default: 6443).
Consider deploying a cluster add-on like kube-dns to manage DNS within the cluster securely.
Container Image Security:
Implement a vulnerability scanner to identify vulnerabilities within container images before deployment.
Utilize Azure Container Registry (ACR) with private repositories to store and manage container images securely.
Enforce image signing to ensure the integrity and provenance of container images.
Secrets Management:
Utilize Azure Key Vault or a dedicated secrets management solution to store sensitive data like passwords, tokens, and API keys.
Avoid storing secrets directly within container images or Kubernetes manifests.
Monitoring and Logging:
Enable Azure Monitor for AKS to collect cluster logs and metrics for centralized management and analysis.
Configure container image scanning results and security incidents to be sent to Azure Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions for further investigation.
Additional Considerations:
Cluster Node Security:
Configure Kubernetes to run pods with the least privileged user account necessary.
Regularly patch Kubernetes and underlying OS versions for known vulnerabilities.
Consider enabling Pod Security Policies (PSPs) to enforce security best practices at the pod level.
Workload Security:
Implement security best practices within your containerized applications, such as secure coding practices and runtime security tools.
Utilize Network Policy Enforcement (NPE) to restrict communication between workloads based on security requirements.
Backup and Recovery:
Implement a backup and recovery strategy for your AKS cluster and containerized applications.
Remember: This is a baseline, and your specific security needs may require additional controls. Continuously evaluate and update your security posture based on evolving threats, regulatory requirements, and your organization's risk tolerance.
Core Controls:
Identity and Access Control (IAM):
Utilize Azure Active Directory (AAD) for cluster and workload identity and access control.
Implement the principle of least privilege with RBAC for users, service accounts, and pods within the cluster.
Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all access to the AKS cluster and Azure resources it interacts with.
Network Security:
Deploy your AKS cluster within a Virtual Network (VNet) with Network Security Groups (NSGs) to restrict inbound and outbound traffic.
Configure NSGs to allow access only from authorized IP addresses and services.
Consider using Azure Private Link for secure communication between your cluster and other Azure services.
Node Security:
Enable Azure Defender for Cloud to monitor for vulnerabilities in the underlying AKS cluster nodes.
Configure automatic updates for the AKS cluster nodes to ensure they are patched with the latest security fixes.
Restrict SSH access to the cluster nodes and utilize strong passwords or key-based authentication.
Consider using Azure Bastion for secure and centralized access to cluster nodes.
Container Security:
Implement a container image registry with access control (e.g., Azure Container Registry) for storing and managing container images.
Enforce vulnerability scanning for container images before deployment to the AKS cluster.
Utilize pod security policies (PSP) to define security baselines for pods running within the cluster.
Consider deploying a runtime defense solution like Aqua or NeuVector for additional container runtime security.
Cluster Security:
Disable unused Kubernetes APIs to reduce the attack surface.
Enable Azure Monitor logging for the AKS cluster to capture control plane and kubelet logs for security analysis.
Utilize Azure Sentinel for centralized log aggregation and advanced threat detection capabilities.
Additional Considerations:
Secrets Management: Utilize Azure Key Vault for secure storage and access control of sensitive data like passwords, API keys, and connection strings used by your applications running within the cluster.
Cluster Backup and Disaster Recovery: Implement a backup and disaster recovery strategy for your AKS cluster to ensure availability and data recovery in case of incidents.
Security Automation: Utilize Azure Automation or tools like ArgoCD to automate security best practices within your AKS environment.
Compliance Management: Leverage Azure Policy and initiative definitions to enforce security configurations and compliance standards within your AKS cluster.
Remember: This is a baseline, and your specific security needs may require additional controls. Continuously evaluate and update your baseline as your AKS environment and security threats evolve. You can leverage tools like Microsoft Defender for Cloud to monitor your AKS security posture and identify areas for improvement.
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